76 silver prints taken between 1949 and the late 1970s by Hashem El Madani
Between 22 x 15 cm and 39.5 x 26.5 cm (each) 


The Madani Project takes the entire archive of Studio Shehrazade as study material to understand the complex relationship, which ties a studio photographer to his working space, his equipment and tools, economy and aesthetics. It further explores his ties to clients, society and the city in general.

Initiated by Akram Zaatari and the Arab Image Foundation, the Madani Project meets Zaatari’s interest in living situations and configurations as objects of study that testify on modern traditions and complex social relationships as well as the Arab Image Foundation’s commitment to preserving, indexing and studying photographic collections in the Arab world. The Madani Project takes shape in a series of thematic exhibitions, publications and videos centered on photographer Hashem el Madani (1928–) and his work. This compilation of photographs introduces Madani’s Studio Practices and focuses on the studio space as a space for play in a socially conservative society.


*1966 in Sidon, Lebanon | Living and working in Beirut, Lebanon